Title Where rivers flow (Ezekiel 47:6-12)
Contents 1-5 are talking about growing our faith from ankle faith to knee, knee to waist, and waist to immersion in water.
However, looking at verses 3-5, we can see strange words.
Ezekiel 47:3 He made me cross the water, and the water came up to my ankles.
Ezekiel 47:4 He made me cross the water, and the water came up on my knees, and again measured a thousand cubits, and he made me cross the water, and the water went up on my loins.
Ezekiel 47:5 And again he measured a thousand cubits, and the waters became a river that I could not cross.
Why isn't there a saying, "Cross over" when you are immersed in your ankles, knees, or waist, and "cross" when you become a river
The reason is, first, that the river cannot be crossed by anyone.
There are probably few among us believers who can cross the Han River. It is because you need to be confident in swimming to cross, and even if you are confident, if you are not humble in front of the water, you will drown.
It is said that most of the people who die from drowning are not those who cannot swim, but those who can swim to some extent. However, the better you swim, the more careful you are in the water. Because we know how dangerous water is. However, people who know how to do a little bragging and boasting will end up having a disgrace.
So is belief. It is easy for beginners to become arrogant. Those who have experienced really deep grace do not reveal themselves or be proud. Therefore, the absence of the word “cross over” means to wait until you become humble.
Second, it is because you need to have healthy strength to cross.
Even if you are a good swimmer, you cannot go far if you are not healthy. Likewise, what is needed to cross the rough seas of life is a healthy faith.
In life, not always good things happen. Sometimes I get tired and tired of doing things I don't want to do. That's when you have to be careful. You have to persevere until the end and fight with faith and win, but most of them do not, and you can see that your faith is weakening. If you look at the world or people, you will inevitably become weak.
Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait for the LORD will find new strength, and they will soar up on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary, they will walk and not get weary.
Look to God. He believes that he will recover as powerfully as an eagle soars on its wings.
Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Do you feel tired or weak and lonely? Do not be afraid or startled, but reach out to the Lord. I believe that God will hold you up with the right hand of power and lift you up.
Human abilities are limited. Therefore, only those who look to God and depend on the hand of the Lord can overcome the harsh sect and triumph. So Paul, who believed only in his own strength,
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
How many rivers in this world I can't cross
♣ Is there any way to cross a river that cannot be crossed like this?
In Genesis 6, God commanded Noah to build a huge ark before he judged the world in which sin was rampant. After receiving orders, Noah began to build a boat on the mountain, and before the flood began, people told them to get into the boat because there was going to be a great flood in the future, but no one believed. In the end, only Noah's family went into the boat and were saved.
Matthew 24:38 Before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark.
Matthew 24:39 They did not understand until the flood came and destroyed them all; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
The ship means the church. The church is the body of Christ, so only through Jesus Christ can we cross the river of all misery, suffering, and death in life.
In other words, we believe that we will be able to overcome the long and rough sea of life that cannot be crossed by human strength only when we get on the boat called Jesus.
According to Acts 27:18, 19, there were 276 passengers on a ship called 'Alexandria' that was going to Rome. However, when the ship encountered a great storm during the voyage and the ship was in danger of sinking, it is recorded that “they unpacked their luggage into the sea and threw away the ship’s equipment with their own hands.” Since the ship was a trading ship, it had many valuable treasures and goods. But in the face of the storm, such things were of no use. Rather, it became a burden and threw it all away. And when they waited only for God's help, they received miraculous salvation.
Don't get me wrong that money makes my life happy. Do not misunderstand that social status or status brings me peace and joy. Rather, remember that those things can make life more painful and lonely.
Let's go back to the main text.
Ezekiel 47:7 When I returned, there were very many trees on either side of the river.
Ezekiel 47:12 On the left and right sides of the river grow trees of all kinds for food, and their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not wither, and will bear new fruit every month, and its water will come out of the sanctuary; its fruit is edible, and its leaves are medicinal. will be
♣ Why are there so many trees and so many fruits? It is because the water is good.
Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; all its events prosper.
I believe that if I put my roots in Jesus, who is the river of eternal life, my life will change into a rich life of new history.
♣ As the river flowed, even the sea water was revived.
Ezekiel 47:8 And he said to me, "This water will flow toward the east, and it will go down to the Arabah and come to the sea.
Ezekiel 47:9 Wherever this river goes, all living creatures that multiply will live, and there will be very many fish; and the water will flow in, and the seas will be refreshed, and everything will live wherever it goes.
As rivers flow into the rotten sea, the sea is revived. The dying fish came back to life, swam vigorously, and fishermen were drawn back into the devastated sea.
In this way, I believe that the work of new life will take place where the river of the gospel flows.
When the gospel of Jesus Christ enters an individual's heart, the individual soul comes to life. When that gospel enters the family, the family will come to life. I believe that if we accept the gospel just like a river flows through a rotten sea, it will be healed and restored, and the work of new life will be created in me and my family as well.
Ezekiel 47:11 The mud and mud will not be burned, but will become a land of salt.
The pearls and mudflats here refer to places that are not submerged in water. In a word, they refer to non-Christians who only smelled Jesus and watched at the river, but did not jump into the river of grace.
To become salt land means useless land. Because plants can never grow in salty soil, you cannot expect a blessed harvest.
When you hear and believe these words today, I pray that Jesus, the eternal living water, will flow into your heart and family, like a useless land of salt, to receive and enjoy the spiritual blessings of heaven and the rich blessings of the earth.
Conclusion Dear Gil Sung Han!